1841 George Turnbull and the Auld Grey Yaud

Cornet George Turnbull, aged 21, was living in Allers Bank with his father John, a 43 year old “Seedsman Sp Dealer” in the census record – presumably an abbreviation for “Seedsman and Spirit Dealer”

“Hawick Place Names” gives Allers Crescent being built in 1841 – after which the area looked like this

But at the time, it looked more like this map from the early 1800s [Woods Map of 1824] Allars Bank was a much more open area

The mill lade [which you can still trace running under the front of what was Turnbull the Dyers] – powered several mills – flour and corn mills. The Peth – Millpath – was Kiln Path, presumably to dry the grain

Next to the Corn Mill, on the south side of Allars, the 1824 map labels the building as Mr Turnbull
The 1841 census address for the Mr Turnbull Seedsman [and spirit dealer] is “Allars Bank south side” which looks about right – and so maybe that building is where Cornet George Turnbull lived. However, an alternative would be a building on the other side of the Millpath on the edge of the open Allars area.

Those two Corn Mill buildings are still there – other buildings were knocked down in the 1860s when the railway was built, and Allars Crescent was being put up in 1841 when George was Cornet.

By 1851, he was living in 4 Bourtree Place, east side as a “Seedsman and Merchant” in his own right, with his wife Agnes ,from Cavers, and two toddlers Violet and Helen.

Still a very open part of town, even in this map of 1858. “Hawick Place Names” suggests 1842 as the first date for Bourtree Place.

By 1861, George is still in 4 Bourtree Place, has a nursery, and is employing 10 women and 1 boy

Returning to what might have been – George would have been a 9 year old living near the Corn Mill when Pawkie Paiterson’s Auld Grey Yaud was written.

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About Neil Wallace

Born in the Haig Maternity, lived in Dovemount Place, and started school there at Trinity. To Burnfoot Primary then the High School. Moved away from the town to Cardiff, then Edinburgh, and now an exile in Suffolk.

Discussion

One thought on “1841 George Turnbull and the Auld Grey Yaud”

Actually “Allars Bank” is the name given to the part of the Cross Wynd between the “Staney Brae” and the bridge over the railway, after which the road becomes Wellogate Brae.
So George Turnbull’s house on the south side of Allars Bank was further north than you have suggested (there were a lot of Turnbulls then, and the “Mr. Turnbull” on the “Kiln Path” on Wood’s 1824 map was probably one of the Dyers). The house of these Turnbulls was apparently called “Allars House”, and may well have been the block on Wood’s map near the corner of what are labelled “Cross Wynd” and “Kiln Path”, close to where Hogg’s Mill was later built.